I couldn't help it. When I first read Fifty Shades of Grey I kept picturing the characters from Twilight in a dark twisted universe full of kinky fuckery. Knowing it was fan fiction drew me to connect the dots between the two stories and their redundant similarities. But then I sat back and thought about the story from a filmmaker's point of view and all I could think of was 9-1/2 Weeks.

I wasn't the only one... Director Sam Taylor-Johnson has made multiple references to the erotic predecessor, even noting they shot Fifty Shades in 9-1/2 weeks on purpose. There are many who like to point to the Adrian Lyne film simply to prove that Fifty Shades wasn't breaking new ground, but I'd like to celebrate the wonderful similarities that have made this record shattering blockbuster better than the book.

The Power Seat

John Wheeler and Christian Grey both have high power careers that have brought them wealth and offices filled with beautiful women at their beckon call. Aside from that, these two men have a structured wardrobe limited to suits of grays and black with crisp white shirts. Christian of course has a wide variety of gray ties, however both men take pleasure in spending money on their organized closets. I like that these stark visuals set up the wall these men put up to keep emotion limited in their lives.

Great Use Of The Close-Up & Great Soundtracks

One technique both films used that proved to be a tantalizing treat that stayed within the ratings guidelines was the close-up. Montages of lips, fingers, stomachs, and an occasional nipple move along to great soundtracks for steamy sex scenes that tap into the female foreplay psyche in ways that straight sex scenes don't. The anticipation of the touch is something both films play on to bring a higher eroticism. I'd like to point out both films have amazing soundtracks. Although some tracks on 9-1/2 Weeks are dated heavily, the vibe of the underground New York lovers carries through and both have the amazing voice of Annie Lennox! You can't beat that.

Even Sociopaths Smile

Okay, so maybe they aren't sociopaths... but these men are fucked up and yet in the presence of their loves they can't help but crack a toothy grin and feel themselves being swept away. This is the key to hooking a woman... make her see how she's changing him. Women connect to the urge whether they want to or not and it's hard not to swoon when the man with a steel heart melts from her cuteness.

Crops 'n Things

Of course this was in both films because it's part of the play time, but there is a safe sultry quality to the riding crop that works. When Wheeler pops her leg with the instrument and everyone in the shop jumps, you want to see him use it like Fifty. This is a point where Fifty Shades delivered what the 80s film had to leave out.

Ice Cold Love

One of the most iconic scenes from 9-1/2 Weeks (besides the messy refrigerator scene) is the ice scene where John first seduces Liz with a blindfold and his slow torturous seduction. Christian pushes this scene even further with one of the greatest position flips of all time. I swear I gasped the first time wondering if it was difficult for Dakota not to hurt her wrist. There's a great spank on Ana's bare ass just after this that gets a nervous giggle from the audience before the intense sex brings all humor to a stand still.

Tasteful Beauty

Although Dornan does reveal his body more than Rourke (thankfully) I have to say the tasteful and fearless nudity Kim and Dakota agreed to was done in a way that woman can appreciate and admire. I heard women at the gym commenting on Dakota's perfect "apple" bottom and we all know Kim's been complimented for hers a million times. I'd like to tip my hat to the Director's for making sure the audience (primarily women) were given the amount of nudity needed without making it vulgar.

Tough Choices

Leaving behind the greatest love and sex you've known to uphold your self-worth is a common theme that punctuates both films in the end and it's treated with a mature eye and great acting. Overall I'd say the final two scenes of Fifty Shades show that Dakota brought to the screen an Ana that doesn't fill her thoughts with self-loathing and wishy-washy thought of inner Goddess struggles... Dakota's Ana brought the film a grown woman who knows where to draw a line... even when it hurts very deep. Liz was already married and divorced when she began her affair so there was already a sense of worldy-ness that she had over Ana, but she was presented as fragile and vulnerable to what people thought of her. I loved that Dakota proved Ana was as intelligent and capable of standing her ground. I did however imagine her second guessing in the elevator the way Elizabeth did as she dragged herself away from Wheeler's Manhattan apartment.